Thursday, December 18, 2014

STATE CAPITOL, PHOENIX – Rep.
Catherine Miranda, D-Phoenix (District 27), released this statement after the
U.S. Supreme Court denied a request to stay an appeals court decision to block an
executive order from Gov. Jan Brewer that prevented state agencies from issuing
driver’s licenses to young immigrants who have received work permits and are
avoiding deportation under the Obama administration’s deferred action policy.

“The executive order
that prevented dreamers from getting driver’s licenses hurt our state’s
reputation and our economy. The U.S. Supreme Court decision will help Arizona
put the policies that have created a negative image for our state behind us.
The executive order put partisan politics ahead of people, and that wasn’t
right.

“I introduced HB 2032 in
2013. I intended this bill to clarify that deferred action recipients are able
to use federally issued work permits to show that their presence is authorized
when applying for driver’s licenses. Although this was the only immigration bill
to be heard in a committee that year, it did not pass, and the issue persisted.

“Now, we have received a
decision from the highest court in the land, and it is only a matter of time
before dreamers can apply for driver’s licenses. This will provide an immediate
benefit to our state’s image and economy.”